'He can pump it': Bear River SP throws complete-game shutout vs. Marysville

Mar. 22—The Marysville High baseball team could not seem to solve the riddle of what Bear River sophomore Kaden Nicholls was bringing Thursday in the Pioneer Valley League series finale between the schools at Weldon Field on the campus of MHS.

Nicholls, a power lefty, struck out 15 Indians and powered first-year head coach Dominic Barriga's lineup inning after inning to finish with a complete-game, two-hit shutout, silencing Marysville, 5-0 to sweep the league series.

"He can pump it," Barriga said. "That guy is only a sophomore so we're going to have to face him a lot going forward. We knew coming in that he was going to pump it and we couldn't catch up."

Marysville (3-8, 0-4 PVL) looks to regroup Monday in a nonleague battle against Florin, out of Sacramento, beginning at 4 p.m. at Weldon Field.

Bear River (9-0, 2-0) remained two games back of Sutter (11-0, 4-0) and Wheatland (9-2, 4-0) for the lead in the PVL. The Bruins open up a tournament Monday against Crawford (San Diego).

Sutter will be at the San Diego Lions Tournament where it opens up against San Ysidro, on Monday.

Sutter and Bear River do not play until April 9 in the start of a two-game home-and home series. Bear River looks capable of competing with anyone in the league with Nicholls on the hill. Bear River's star on Thursday used a high leg kick to hide his pitches while effectively painting each side of the plate to flummox Marysville for seven innings.

"It was tough for them all game," Barriga said. "He does a good job staying balanced, loading up and not showing it until the last minute. We struggled picking (it) up."

Nicholls sent home Marysville in order multiple times through four innings before Benjamin Barajas lined a two-out double in the bottom of the fifth. However, Marysville remained off the scoreboard after Nicholls struck out the next hitter to send the Indians back to the dugout.

One of Marysville's freshmen, Julien Johnson, got the other hit, along with firing three innings of two-hit, zero earned-run baseball to help stem the Bear River tide offensively and keep the game within reach.

"The whole team from last year is gone," Barriga said. "I made the call to get some sophomores and freshmen up here to develop them. (Johnson) is probably the most consistent pitcher we have right now — not going to overpower you but he has great movement and he does not let anything get to him," Barriga said. "I'm looking forward to working with him going forward."

Starter Wyatt Lococo received the loss for Marysville.

For Bear River, Cooper Berry had three hits, including a two-out scoring single in the third, to go along with a double, while Jacob Fassler provided two hits and scored a run.

Sutter 2, Twelve Bridges 1

MaxPreps' No. 8 team in the Sac-Joaquin Section edged Twelve Bridges on the road, 2-1 Thursday.

Sutter Union High's Kasey Combo went seven innings on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out five to get the win.

Brady Wickum went 1-for-3 with the lone run batted in for the Huskies.

Wheatland 10, Colfax 3

Joshua Rivera had a pair of hits and RBI, while Kai Hanley drove in four to help Wheatland take care of business at home Thursday to stay unbeaten in league.

Wheatland opens a series at Marysville Tuesday at 4 p.m.